WOODS CROSS - Construction on Woods Cross City’s new water treatment facility is underway after city officials broke ground for the new plant at 2285 S. 1200 West.

The facility is expected to clean the city’s four contaminated wells of perchloroethylene (PCE) contamination left there from a dry cleaning facility that closed decades ago on the current ShopKo site, according to information provided by the city.

The plant should be completed by August.

The first phase is the construction of new water lines that should be finished in the next two to three months, with construction scheduled between 7 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Three construction crews will be working in the area to help reduce impacts on residents and businesses and complete the project efficiently, according to a notice of the construction plan.

There may be temporary interruptions to some utility services, but residents will be given 24-hours' notice on any planned interruptions.

There may also be some road closures and residents are asked to find alternate routes and avoid parking on the streets.

The city issued $4.5 million in water revenue bonds in December. They also approved a $9 increase in water rates to pay for the project.

City council members held a series of open houses last spring, in which about 80 percent of the residents said addressing the contamination was a high priority.

Nearly 55 percent said they would be willing to pay an additional $6-$10 per month on their water bills and 25 percent said they would pay as much as $11 to $15 monthly.

More than 90 percent of the city’s drinking water comes from groundwater wells. The city collects and tests samples from the wells on a regular basis.

The testing indicates that water from the four contaminated wells is still within safety requirements.